I Knew You Were Trouble

Ashley isn't known for falling in love quickly. But being friends with Louis Tomlinson, Harry Styles, Niall Horan and Liam Payne, well it isn't hard to fall in love with them. And then one day, everything changed. An old friend of the gang decides to pay a visit & becomes the fifth member to the group. With his perfectly chiselled face like someone from a Calvin Klein ad & his sexy smile...let's just say he's godlike and perfect. Ashley & him become friends but then soon, they can't put off the inevitable - they're perfect for each other. This old friend's name is Zayn Javaad Malik. His black hair styled into a quiff, his face so perfect it was like Michaelangelo sculpted it himself and his eyes the softest chocolate brown that you could melt if you stared right into them. But every boy has his flaws - Zayn is a heartbreaker, he smokes, curses & is covered in tatts.
Ash & Zayn have a fight and call it quits. Both are equally devastated...
Will Ash ever recover and how will she cope?

7. Little Black Dress

I was sitting on Zayn’s lap reading a book while he kept playing with my hair and planting small kisses on my neck and face. I tried to ignore him but soon it was impossible. I was reading my favourite book ‘Embrace’ and I was up to the bit where Violet and Phoenix were sitting on the bed before she embraces, but I couldn’t focus.

“Zayn, honey?”

“Hmm?” He said, kissing my neck again.

“What are you doing?”

“Loving you” He said innocently.

“Awe cute, but can you not, right now?”

“Why?”

“I told you, this is my fave book. Now, what did I say about distracting me while I’m reading a good book?”

“Not to distract you” He said, with a sad face.

“Exactly” I said. He still had a pout on his face. I went back to reading but then an old friend of mine appeared; guilt. I sighed and put the book down. “You make so hard for me to be mad at you. So hard”

Zayn smiled innocently and batted his eyelids. “I don’t have the slightest inkling of what you mean”

“Oh, I’m pretty sure you do. Now, stop your pouting and put your lips to good use” I said, leaning towards him. He put his hand on the back of my head and bought my head closer. He kissed my lips. I responded and soon we were lying down on the couch, our kisses very deep and heated. My legs were wrapped around his waist and his hands on either side of me, caging me in them. Things were about to get R rated when someone cleared their throat. We broke apart and looked to see who it was. Harry and Eleanor were at the door. Harry had a huge Cheshire grin on his face and Eleanor was blushing and looking at the floor.

“Sorry to interrupt the porn movie. No, I really am sorry. Like, if I didn’t have to tell you something I would have just let it go on…”

“Harry, I think they get how sorry you are. We all know how you are” Eleanor interrupted, looking annoyed.

“Right, sorry. Liam and we thought maybe we should spend the night out tonight. Go clubbing or something? But clearly, you guys are busy so we’ll just leave you guys to it. Carry on” He said, smirking. Eleanor hit him on the back of his head and Harry exclaimed in pain.

“Ow!”

“You’ve just spoiled it. You’re doing chores for a week now, cooking us breakfast, lunch and dinner, and cleaning every room and bathroom in the house”

“What!”

“You heard me! It’s time you contributed to helping around the house”

“But Zayn doesn’t help out” Harry complained with a frown.

“Oh no, you don’t. You’re leaving me out of this one. I don’t want any part in this” Zayn said, shaking his head and laughing.

“Zayn contributes by helping paying the bills. Now you, however, don’t have a job and don’t earn money. The only amusing things you do are strip naked at random times and eat. You can start now by making all the beds in the house”

“Awe” Harry said, walking away with his shoulders drooped.

“Right, now as we were saying we were thinking of going out tonight?” Eleanor said, smiling. I looked at Zayn.

“I really don’t care. What do you think Zayn?”

“A night out sounds great to me, sure, we’ll go” He said, shrugging. Eleanor squealed and clapped her hands.

“Yay! I’ll go tell the others and then you missy” She said, grabbing my wrist. “Are coming with me. I have the perfect dress for you” She pulled me off Zayn’s lap and dragged me away. I quickly looked back and gave him an apologetic look and shrug. He smiled in understanding.

We went into the kitchen and Eleanor called out. “They said yes!”

I heard various whoops and cheers come from different sections of the house. Eleanor laughed and dragged me into her bedroom. She let me go and closed the door. She walked to her closet and opened the door. “Now where is it?” She muttered to herself. She slid dresses of every kind to one side and stopped when she found what she was looking for. She pulled out a dress and laid it out in front of me. “It’s a good thing that we are both the same dress size otherwise I wouldn’t know what to do”

I got a good look at the dress. It was knee-length and black. It had black glitter on it that sparkled when the light hit it. It was strapless. My eyes widened.

“Eleanor, I can’t possibly wear this! It’s… it’s… it’s not me! Have you seen how short it is? What do you want me to be? A prostitute! Nope, uh-uh, no way am I wearing this dress out!”

“Well, you’re not a nun! And besides, you haven’t even seen it on you yet! You’ll look sexy in it. Zayn won’t be able to keep his eyes off you”

I looked up. “Really?”

“Oh honey, all the boys will be admiring you. And the satisfaction of how they can’t touch you will be sweet. And Zayn, well, let’s say he also won’t be able to take his hands off you. He will be trying to show those boys you’re his”

I smiled. “Fine, I’ll give the dress a chance”

“Great, now we need shoes” She said. She went into her shoe cupboard. “No, no, no. Ah ha, yes. Perfect!” She exclaimed. She walked out with a pair of black stilettos and I laughed.

“Stilettos? No way, I don’t even know how to walk in high heels let alone stilettos”

“That’s why you have me. I’ll teach you. We have all afternoon to practice. And we won’t be leaving until you nailed it”

She handed me the pair of heels and the dress. “Why do I need the dress?”

“Because, you also need to get used to wearing a dress like that and you need to get used to walking in it. Now go and change”

I sighed and walked into the bathroom. I put on the dress and heels. I looked at myself in the mirror and tried to hitch it down but eventually gave up. I actually didn’t look that bad, it clung to me in the right place. It showed some cleavage and pushed my chest out a bit and showed my curves. I had to admit that it did make me look smoking hot. I took a step but almost fell flat on my face in the process. I gained my balance and gripped the sink as I took another step. My feet wobbled and I started to worry that I would break an ankle. Slowly, I managed to walk to the door. I carefully let go of the sink and left it hovering over the sink, in case I ended up falling on my face again. I reached out to the handle and opened the door. Eleanor saw me and how I was trying to not fall. She rushed to my side and held my arm.

“Eleanor, I can’t walk in these! I’ll end up breaking an ankle or tripping over. I could hurt myself or someone!”

“Yes you can and no you won’t! Not if you practice!”

“Screw practice, I’ll just wear flats”

“Flats!” Eleanor screeched. “Flats! Are you kidding me? No way are you going to wear flats to a club. They won’t go with dress” She shuddered. “Ugh. No way are you going to wear flats to the club. You are going to wear these stilettos period. And if you did wear flats, people would look at you and think you’re a weirdo. You’d be the only wearing flats to a club. You’d stick out like a neon sign! Now, stand up and practice. I will teach you how to wear stilettos if it’s the last thing I do. I won’t rest or die until you have finally mastered the art of walking stilettos”

I rolled my eyes. “Fine! But if I end up in hospital, it’s all you okay?”

“Deal” She said, walking to the far side of the room.

“Wait, where are you going?” I asked, panicking. “Why are you all the way over there?”

“Yeah, just dandy!” I said. I gained my balance and took a hesitant step forward. My foot wobbled a bit. Once it had stopped, I took another step.

“You’re doing great. You can do this Ash, I know you can”

“Great, now I feel like a toddler learning how to walk!” I said through gritted teeth.

“No, you feel like an 18 year old learning how to walk in high heels. I don’t know why you haven’t worn them before but we’ll just have to make do”

“I haven’t worn them before because I haven’t felt the need to!”

“Alright, fine. Just keep walking”

I glared at her then took another step. Slowly, I managed to walk all the way Eleanor. I smiled and let out a breath.

“Phew, that took a lot out of me. Looks like I know how to walk in heels now. Your work here is done. Thank you and now I shall be off” I said, about to walk off but Eleanor gripped my wrist. I looked down and then at her. “What?”

“You need to learn how to walk in them smoothly not like someone who had one too many drinks”

“Awe, come on. I tried. Can’t you just give a girl some credit for trying?” I pleaded. Eleanor just looked at me with one eyebrow raised and a look that said ‘seriously?’ I sighed in frustration. “Fine, I’ll learn how to walk in them smoothly but you owe me!”

She said nothing but walked to the other side of the room. I death glared her and then took a step. There was only a little wobble now, not a wobble that was about to break my leg. Another step, another little wobble. This went on until I reached her. I looked at her with a puppy dog face.

“You did well but you haven’t finished. I reckon two more catwalks and you’re done” She said. I moaned. She walked, again, to the other side of the room.

“Christ, I didn’t know walking in heels was such hard work. Remind me to never wear them again” I muttered. I stood up straight and took a step. There was hardly any wobbling now, just a little shake. I smiled proudly. I walked to Eleanor and she gave me some reassuring words that I just had one more. She walked away from me.

As I walked to her, there was no wobbling or shaking of any kind. I laughed with happiness.

“Yes! I did it” I said, smiling.

“Finally, I was worried that I might hit menopause teaching you” I pushed her playfully.

“Don’t be mean” I said, laughing.

“Now, come on. Hair and make-up” She said. We walked to bathroom. I sat down while she did my hair. She decided to curl it a bit, make it look wavy but not too wavy. And she spritzed it with hairspray to keep it in place. “Close your eyes” She demanded. I closed my eyes obediently and she dusted my face with powder foundation. She put eye liner on my eyes. “Open” I opened my eyes. She smiled. “Look up” I directed my eyes to the roof and she put on mascara. “3, 2, 1, blink” I blinked. “Almost done. Close”

I closed my eyes again. She put on eye shadow. “Perfect, open” I opened and she lightly blew air on my face. “Now close your mouth” I did as told. She put on some red lipstick and red lip-gloss to hold it in place. “Et voila!” She declared. “Oh, wait! Blush” She dashed to the makeup bag and scavenged for it. She pulled it out and quickly put it on me. “Now, I’m done” She said, taking a step back. I stood up and looked at myself in the mirror. My jaw dropped.

Eleanor had turned me from pretty and casual to smoking hot and sexy! My lips were stained red. My eyelids had been turned black and were given the full smoky effect. The eyeliner went off the edge a bit given my eyes the feline look. I looked stunning!

“I’m glad you like it. Now, go and wait outside so I can try and make myself look as gorgeous as you” I walked out and waited.

A few minutes later, she walked out. My eyes widened. I thought I looked good! She was wearing a hot pink dress that went halfway down her legs. It, too, was strapless. It clung to her but at the end it flared out, giving the mermaid effect. She had peach heels on and her make-up was soft; white eye shadow, pink lips and a touch of blush. I may have looked hot but she looked stunning and gorgeous and beautiful. Her hair was curled at the ends and thrown over her shoulders.

“Well?” She asked, she gave a little twirl and the fabric was a whirl of peach.

“Yep, looks like once again I’m the outcast. You’ve outdone me, Eleanor. You think the boys won’t be able to keep their eyes off me? It won’t be me their drooling over, it’ll be you. And while you are dancing on the floor with the other, I’ll be sitting at the table, neglected and devastated”

“Oh please, Louis won’t let the boys near me. Zayn may be protective but Louis is more protective. He won’t be able to let me out of his sight. And I’m not complaining”

“Hold on, let me get Sophia” I said. I walked out of the room and to Sophia’s room – which was next door. I knocked and opened the door. Sophia was sitting on her bed, chewing a pencil and had books cluttered all over her bed. Her hair was in a messy top knot and a few strands had managed to escape. She was sitting cross legged. She was studying. Sophia was still in University but the rest of us had finished and got our degrees.

I frowned. “What are you doing?” I asked, confused.

“Oh, hey Ash!” She said, looking up from her books. “I’m studying, what does it look like I’m doing?”

“I know you’re studying but didn’t you hear? We’re going out tonight”

“I know”

“So why aren’t you ready?”

“Oh, that’s because I’m not going” She said casually.

“What!?” I screeched. “Not going? Why not?”

“Uhm, I don’t know maybe because I have to study if I want my degree in photography”

“Studying can wait”

“Uh, no it can’t. My exam is coming up so if you would excuse me, I’m going to go back to studying” She went back to her books and I took a deep breath. I smiled.

“Fine” I said, through gritted teeth.

“Thank you”

I closed the door and ran back to Eleanor’s room. “WE HAVE CODE 5, SITUATION 12!” I yelled.

“What?” Eleanor said, confused. Yeah, I don’t even know what I meant.

“Sophia isn’t coming with us tonight. She’d rather study then hang with us and have a good time”

“That is a problem. Come on, I know how to handle this. When you’ve been around Sophia for as long as I have, you learn that there is only one way to make her stop studying”

“Oh, oh, are you now? Studying, huh? We’ll see about that” She said, she now had the Cheshire cat grin on her face. On her, it looked deadly and sickly sweet. Sophia’s eyes widened in fear. Even I was starting to panic.

“Eleanor, you’re starting to freak us out”

“How are you supposed to study without your books?” Eleanor asked, head tilted.

“What do you mean? My books are right…” She trailed off as she noticed that they weren’t right there.

“Missing something?” Eleanor asked. Her grin so wide that I guarantee her cheeks would hurt the next morning. She looked like an evil mermaid now. She held up the textbooks triumphantly.

“Ho-”

“A true magician never reveals his/her secrets. Now, if you want your books back you have to go out with us and have some fun”

“Oh ho, no way!” She said, reaching for the books but Eleanor danced backwards.

“Nope, you will never get these back unless you come party with us”

Sophia reached for them again and Eleanor danced another step back.

“We could do this all day and I would still have the books”

“Fine! I’ll go dance with you. I will have some fun. But this is blackmail!”

“I am Eleanor. Queen of Blackmail!”

“Eleanor! That’s so lame” I said, shaking my head and laughing.

“I know but right now, it’s the best I’ve got”

Sophia got up and folded her arms. “I am so not looking forward to tonight”

“Oh, don’t worry, Soph. We’ll make you look so freaking hot that all the boys will want you and Liam will have you – tonight” I said, grinning cheekily.

“Ashley!” Soph exclaimed. I shrugged.

“I’m stating the truth”

Sophia blushed. We grabbed both of her arms and pulled her into Elles room. We studied her as if she was a puzzle or a chess board and we were trying to figure out a next move. I ran to Soph’s room and went through clothes. No, no, no, YES! I pulled out a red dress. I went back to Elles room and gave it to her. I went to my room and went through the mess that was my closet. I finally found my red ballet flats and when Eleanor saw them, she smiled wryly. She held up a pair of red heels. I sighed.

“I feel sorry for flats now. They never win”

“Ashley, do you really want Sophia to stick out like homeless in fine dining restaurant? And besides, we are both wearing heels so therefore she should wear heels in order to fit in”

“Do I get a say in what I wear?” Sophia asked.

“No!” We both snapped. Sophia sighed.

“Of course not, God forbid I ask to wear something horrible” She muttered under her breath and sat on the end of the bed.

“Fine, she’ll wear the heels but I promise you, one day flats will win and I’ll be the one laughing at you”

“How dramatic” Elle said, handing the heels to Sophia. “Go get changed” Sophia went in the bathroom to get changed. I looked at Elle.

“Do you really think Zayn will find me sexy in this?”

“Oh honey, let’s just say that we will all be the hottest ones there and our boyfriends will have us in bed by the end of the night, if you get what I mean”

I giggled. Sophia walked out and we beamed. Her red dress also clung to her but at the end; it had tight frills and was bunched together. It suited her perfectly. Elle and I nodded at each other and we both silently sent each other a message. Elle grabbed Sophs arm and dragged her back into the bathroom. It was time for hair and makeup. Eleanor did hair, I did makeup. While Eleanor got out the hair straightener, I powdered Soph’s face and coloured her eyelids with a soft brown. I grabbed some eyeliner and darkened her eyelids. I put some mascara on her eyelashes and then after a pause of chewing my lip, contemplating, I grabbed a beige lipstick and put some on and added some beige lipstick. I took a step back and admired my work.

“And they’ll be like” I said, putting on the dumbest expression on my face. My mouth open and my head drooped forward a bit.

“Oh my god, come on. Let’s go” We giggled as we walked out. We descended the stairs one at a time. Eleanor was first and Louis expression was so adorable. He had the biggest smile on his face. It was full of pride, awe and adoration. Eleanor winked at him and he put a hand on the small of her back and whispered into her. She ducked her head, looked up shyly and giggled. Sophia was next. As she descended, Liam was the one who ducked his head shyly. He took her hand and led her off to the side. He, too, whispered in her ear. He gave her a quick peck on the lips. It was my turn. I took in a shaky breath to steady my nerves. I imagined Zayn’s reactions and smiled. I started to descend the stairs. Liam and Louis looked up and their jaws dropped in awe. Zayn, however, had a disappointed look on his face.

When I reached the bottom, there was silence. And then…

“Well, fuck!”

I turned to look at Zayn. “Pardon me?”

“I said well, fuck”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, I didn’t realise how hot you looked in a dress until now and now I realise what a babe I have as a girlfriend”

I cocked an eyebrow. “Well, it’s not the most romantic thing you could have said. But hey, it is you, so I guess it will do”

Zayn took my hand and leant to whisper in my ear. “And now that I realise how hot you are, that means that things can start to get very heated”

I started to smile a grin that not even the Cheshire cat would wear and bit my lip, excited.

“Alright, let’s go” Niall said, smiling. I saw that he believed what I said, and there was a spark of hope in those blue eyes of his but I also saw that there was a massive amount of sadness in those eyes. He longed for a girlfriend. My heart felt a pang of sadness for him. It was times like these when he was sad and I paused for a second. Zayn had his hands on my arm and he paused.

“What’s wrong?” He asked, concerned. I smiled and leant in close to him.

“I’m going to be Niall’s girl for tonight okay?” I whispered. That way, Niall would be happy and Zayn would be so frustrated that I’m not with him and when I am, let’s just say that things will get very heated tonight. It’s a win-win.

“Alright, you are so sweet” I pecked him on the cheek and walked to Niall.

“Hey Ash, you look really beautiful tonight” He said, smiling. Again, the smile was 70% happiness and 30% sadness. He wanted to have someone as beautiful as me.

“Thanks, handsome. You’re gonna be my man for the night”

“What about Zayn?” Niall asked, but his eyes had gotten brighter with happiness.

“Oh, I’m sure Zayn will be fine. He can survive on his own for one night”

“Are you sure?”

“Niall, I haven’t been so sure of something in my life. I would do anything to make you happy and if that means being your date for one night, then so be it” I said, smiling and shrugging. I kissed him on the cheek. He smiled. “Now let’s go to this club and have some fun”

I linked my fingers through Niall’s and we walked through the door with the others and hopped into the SUV. Liam shut the door behind him and Zayn started the car. I couldn’t help but notice his tense muscles as his hands tightened on the steering wheel. It hurt me too, that I wasn’t with him but it would only make tonight so much more special so staying with Niall I was.